|
Phase
29: The Turning Point
Review by Chris August 7, 2003 Kisaka explains to Murrue, Natarle and Neumann that ZAFT's Carpentaria base is busy preparing for a rumored assault on Panama. He says that because of this it's the Archangel's best chance to escape and head for Alaska. Natarle asks if the rumor about Uzumi not knowing about the Gundams is true, and Kisaka says it is. He explains that several council members forced the decision to develop mobile suits with the Alliance. However, he says that Uzumi is taking steps to prevent the Heliopolis situation from occurring again. Elsewhere, Yzak fidgets in his bed on a Vosgulov class submarine. He tells Dearka he's angry because they've spent two days doing nothing on Athrun's hunch that the Archangel will be leaving soon and heading north. Dearka jokes that Yzak should confront Athrun and start a coup d'état, but Yzak says he isn't that unreasonable. On the sub's deck, Nicol tells Athrun about some flying fish and asks him if he's nervous about their mission. Athrun asks Nicol why he joined the military, and Nicol says that he felt he had to fight after the Bloody Valentine incident at Junius Seven. At Morgenroete, the drydock is flooded with water to allow the Archangel to sail out. Tolle sits in the Sky Grasper's cockpit and assures Kira, Mu and Murdoch that he can be a pilot because he did well in the simulation. Cagalli packs her clothes, and Uzumi asks her if she is going to leave with the Archangel. He asks her if she wants to fight, and she says she only wants to help end the war. He asks if her fighting will end the war, and she remembers what Kira and Andy said on the subject. Uzumi says if she kills someone, their family will hate her, and if someone kills her, he will hate them. He says that such a chain reaction goes on and on and doesn't end a war. Several escort ships set sail ahead of the Archangel to help conceal it. As the ship is about to leave, Cagalli runs over to see Kira. She tells him his parents are nearby, and he sees his mother crying and his father waving. He asks her to tell them he's sorry, and she hugs him and asks him not to die. After she leaves, the Archangel sets sail and leaves the drydock. The Archangel follows the escort fleet to the edge of Orb's territorial waters. There, the escort fleet pulls back to allow the Archangel to take off and leave. Murdoch asks Kira why he's getting into the Strike Gundam's cockpit, and he says that he knows ZAFT will attack as soon as they leave Orb's waters. Soon after the ship leaves Orb territory, it is spotted by the Vosgulov submarine. Athrun orders everyone to prepare for battle stations. The four Gundams launch from the submarine and take off in Guul support craft to attack the Archangel. The ship's sensors detect the four approaching Gundams, and Murrue orders battle stations while Natarle has a smoke screen deployed. Mu launches in his Sky Grasper equipped with Aile parts, while Tolle launches behind him in his Sky Grasper with Sword parts. Kira stays behind in the Strike Gundam with Launcher parts to attack the Gundams. Tolle relays the coordinates of the Gundams to Kira, and he uses the 'Agni' cannon to fire close to their positions. Athrun orders the others to spread out. Kira continues his attack and damages Dearka's Guul, sending him into a descent. Mu flies by in the Sky Grasper and gives Kira the Aile parts in mid air so he can fly. Kira slices off the Blitz Gundam's right arm and then knocks it off its Guul. Yzak attacks, but Kira damages his Guul and causes him to crash in the water. Athrun and Nicol chase Kira, but he leads them into the range of the Archangel's weapons. Kira damages Athrun's Guul, but he jumps off it and causes it to crash into Kira's. Athrun lands on a small island below and sees that his power is nearly out. Tolle gives Kira the Sword parts, and he lands on the island to fight Athrun. Kira says he doesn't want to fight, but Athrun tells him to shoot. Kira attacks and knocks the Aegis Gundam down, causing it to finally lose power. Nicol appears nearby and tries to attack Kira, but Kira swings his sword and slices into the cockpit and through Nicol. Nicol tells Athrun to run and briefly thinks of his mother before the Blitz Gundam explodes. Well, the story is finally back on track with the Archangel departing from Orb. It seems that ZAFT's Spit Break will begin soon, and this provides a perfect opportunity for the Archangel to escape. It would be perfect, if not for Athrun's unit hunting them. Cagalli has some words with her father, and he has the upper hand in the argument by proving that her fighting will make no difference and only add to the never ending chain of violence. In another development, Tolle becomes a Sky Grasper pilot, which means his days are numbered. The big surprise here is the battle at the end. Kira seemed ready to kill Athrun, but instead the situation ended with him killing Nicol, the first major character to die. And what a gruesome death it is to be sliced up by Kira's sword. This will surely only deepen the rivalry between him and Athrun. Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
|
